From the bright neon sign to the smell of buttery pancakes that wafts through the restaurant, Mel’s Drive-in is an American classic. Ever since its opening in 1947, Mel’s Drive-in has been a central spot for San Francisco locals.
The original Mel’s was located on 140 South Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. Founded by Mel Weiss and Harold Dobbs, the drive-in was a booming success from the very start. The drive-in restaurant businesses was a fresh idea in 1947 when car-ownership was at an all time high in California. Mel and Dobbs were pleased by the success of their first location, and opened a second Mel’s shortly after. Cooking 20,000 hamburgers a day and raking in $4 million annually, Mel’s exploded in the 1950s. With locations throughout Northern California, Mel’s ruled the restaurant and drive-in industry for a solid decade.
But by the late 60s, the growing popularity of fast food had driven Mel’s down, eventually forcing Mel Weiss and Harold Dobbs to sell in 1972. Soon after, Mel’s was cast as the drive-in “Burger City” in the 1973 film American Graffiti. Pictures from the shooting of the movie can be found on the walls of newer Mel’s locations. The original Mel’s drive-in was unfortunately demolished in 1976, but the legacy and history continues to live on in its seven current spots. There are 3 restaurants in San Francisco (the Van Ness location recently closed), and 4 restaurants in Southern California.
Mel’s was revitalized when its third location opened in 1988 on Geary Street in San Francisco. This location is the oldest one in existence today, and my personal favorite. As good as the fluffy eggs and crispy brown hashbrowns may be, the ambiance at this particular Mel’s is a major selling point. Though it’s not a drive-in, the simplistic restaurant retains much of its historical, classic feel. Black and white pictures of the original Mel’s are galleried on the walls of the Geary restaurant, and Rock ola jukeboxes that once took nickels, but now quarters, sit in the corner of every beige leather booth. Old advertisements for Coca-Cola decorate the walls, Beach Boys hits blast through the restaurant. As testimony to the old drive-in, kids meals are served in colorful paper cars, and waiters and waitresses wear retro white paper hats, serving customers at a long counter with green leather stools at the center of the diner.
Mel’s has changed with the times, what started as an 85 cent chicken pot pie is now $20, and one old fashioned milkshake is $6.99. The last five or six years have fostered a mission to serve a variety of healthier and trendier options, in addition to the thick classic fries and famous breakfast all-day menu. You can now find “gluten free possible” next to many of the dishes, organic eggs, fresh vegetable juice, seared salmon, and avocado toast.
While I would strongly recommend a plate of eggs and hashbrowns or a crispy waffle and fresh-squeezed orange juice at Mel’s, all of the food is delicious. No matter if you’re craving short rib sliders or a bowl of clam chowder, a good time at Mel’s is guaranteed. Whether it is 1pm on a Saturday, 7 a.m .on a Tuesday, or 11 p.m. on a Friday, there’s always a hearty crowd. Bustling with old couples, families, and teenagers, Mel’s drive-in is, as Natasha Salmi ‘19 puts it, “the most beloved diner in California.”
